Lever-actuated wedge breech-block.



No. 809,801. \PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

M. HERMSDORP.

LEVER AG'IUATED WEDGE BREECH BLOCK. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.31, 1905.

Fig?! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX HERMSDORF, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSOHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY. I

LEVER-ACTUATED WEDGE BREECH-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

* Application filed March 31, 1905. Serial No. 253,082.

breech-block is closed, (see Fig. 2,) the stud 0 of the operating-lever is located in that part b of the groove that is concentric to the turning axis of the lever. In that position the arm 0 of the operating-lever has passed the dead-center position relatively to the direction of opening movement of the breechblock, so that an unintentional opening of the breech-block cannot take place. A pressure exerted on the breech-block when the gun is fired and tending to open the breech-block will be transmitted directly to the breech by means of the stud c of the operating-lever and the face 0 of the boss 0 which abuts against the wall a of the groove 0/, and the fulcrumpin D is therefore relieved of the pressure caused by firing the gun.

Having thus described the invention, the following is what is claimed as new therein:

1. In a gun, the combination with the breech, the breech-block, and the operating-leverjour- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX HERMSDORF, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inLever- Actuated Wedge Breech-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to lever-actuated wedge breech-blocks in which the operating-lever engages a curved groove in the breech-blocl The object of the invention is to relieve the fulcrum-pin from the effect of firing by a simple, easy, and cheap construction.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a part of the gunbreech, the breech-block being closed. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same with the upper wall of the breech-opening broken away. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with the breech-block partly open. Fig. 4 is a rear view of Fig. l, partly in section on line 4 4, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the upper wall of the breech-opening.

By means of an operating-lever CO, the fulcrum-pin D of which is journalized in the breech A of the gun-barrel, the breech-block B can be forced into the tapering breechopening and locked therein. To attain this purpose, the arm C of the operating-lever engages a cam-groove b b in the breech-block through the medium of a heart-shaped stud 0 The part 6' of the groove is inclined to the direction of movement of the breech-block, while the part b of the groove is curved in an arc concentric to the axis of the fulcrumpin B.

The arrangement thus far described is old.

In order to relieve the fulcrum-pin D of the effect of firing the gun, I provide the following means: On the side opposite to the stud c the lever-arm C is provided with a boss 0 The side faces 0 and c of boss 0 which extend transverse of the longitudinal axis of the arm C, are concentric to the axis of the fulcrum-pin D. The boss 0 engages a groove a (see also Fig. 5) in the upper wall of the breech-opening. The groove a is curved in an arc concentric to the axis of the fulcrumgroove engaged by a stud on the free end of pin D. The width of the groove a correthe crank-lever; a boss formed on the side of sponds to the width of the boss 0 in a directhe free end of the crank-lever opposite the tion radial to the fulcrum-pin. When the stud, and a groove formed in the side wall of gages, whereby the shock caused by firing the gun is transmitted directly to the breech and removed from the fulcrum of the operatinglever.

2. In agun, the combination with the breech, and the breech-block, of the operating-lever journaled in one of said parts and having connection with the breech block to move it transversely of the bore of the gun, the said part having a groove concentric with the journal of the operating-lever, and means on the lever movable in the concentric groove.

3. In a gun, having a breech-block and an operating-lever journaled in the breech and engaging the breech-block by its free end; a boss on said free end of the operating-lever, and a curved groove in the breech engaged by said boss whereby the shock caused by firing the gun is transmitted directly to the breech and removed from the fulcrum of the operating-lever.

4. In a gun having a fulcrumed crank-lever the gun-breech, concentric with the crankside of the lever engaging the breech to translever fulcrum, and engaged by the boss when mit to the breech the shock imparted to the the breech is closed, whereby the effect of firlever and relieve the fulcrum thereof.

ing is transmitted directly through the stud The foregoing specification signed at Dussel- 5 and lotoss to the breech. h h h dorf this 18th day of March, 1905.

5. nagun, the combination wit t ebreec the breech-block, the operating-lever jour- MAX HERMSDORF naled in the breech, and means on one side of In presence of the lever engaging the breech-bolt to trans- WILLIAM EssENWEIN, 1 mit motion thereto, of means on the opposite PETER LIEBER. 

